This week me and Dizzy have been contemplating the Spoon Theory! With our new job we haven’t had enough energy to be keeping up with our little blog. This has made us think about the Spoon Theory and how it helps explain the lack of energy that comes with chronic illness.
So what is the Spoon Theory?
- The Spoon Theory is a theory invented by Christine Miserandino.
- It is used to help describe what life is like with a chronic illness and the limited energy that comes with it.
- People that use the Spoon Theory are called Spoonies! 🙂
- The idea is that each day you start off with a certain number of spoons and each mental or physical activity uses up a number of these spoons!
- When these have run out you are out of energy to complete anything else. You can sometimes borrow spoons to do more but this means you will then be using up spoons from the next day!
- Every day has to be carefully planned to ensure your spoons last you the whole day. This will mean many things won’t get done as you just don’t have the amount of spoons required to do everything that you would like too.
- Each day you might have a different number of spoons and your spoon count can change during the day. You might suddenly lose them all after only doing a small task!
Dizzy thought to help people understand she would show you how she uses her spoons in an average day. 🙂
A day in the life of a spoonie Dizzy 🙂
Today Dizzy has 12 spoons!
Activity one= Waking up and having a little brush
After waking up Dizzy gets ready for the day by having a little brush (or a sneaky nibble at her brush when she thinks I’m not looking). 🙂
Waking up and having a little brush=2 spoons
Activity 2= Dizzy refusing to eat her carrots
Dizzy did actually look at her carrots this morning! But that was before she nibbled at one, spat it out and spent the next ten minutes pretending she couldn’t see them….
Dizzy refusing to eat her carrots=1 spoon
Activity 3= Going on a little adventure around the garden with her donkey friends
Dizzy’s friends haven’t quite got the hang of the Spoon Theory yet and Dizzy’s hoping this post will help them to understand it. We do now have a lot of spoons in the kitchen though. They keep bringing them!
Going on a little adventure around the garden with her donkey friends=5 spoons
Activity 4= Eating brownies!
Dizzy loves her brownies! And I gave in getting worried she would be hungry after her adventure round the garden. I left the carrots there just in case she changed her mind!
Eating brownies=2 spoons
Activity 5= Dizzy checking her twitter page
Dizzy loves twitter! She will either be posting pictures of todays brownies or looking at tweets of other peoples brownies… Looks like she’s even got crumbs on the laptop!
Checking her twitter page=1 spoon ( and Dizzy’s realised there’s only one left)
Activity 6= Getting tucked up into bed
Dizzy’s been good today and remembered that she needs to save a spoon for getting into bed! Even this takes up some of her energy.
Getting tucked up into bed=1 spoon
This is Dizzy’s day with her 12 spoons. If you had only 12 spoons to get through the day with what would you do with them? 🙂 Would your day look like Dizzy’s? xxx
I’d eat brownies, too!
Seriously, I’d probably split the spoons between what I have to do and what I want to do.
Have a great week!
I think that’s a good way of doing it! Or I’ll have days where I have to use them all for work but will make sure theres day where I can use them all on what I want to do. 🙂 xxx
That’s probably best. 🙂
easy explanation. that makes sense to me.
Yayyy! Glad it has. It took me a while to completely understand it and to even know what it was! 🙂 xxx
I want dizzy to cuddle with and sleep peacefully. She is super cute!
Aww thank you. Dizzy will be very pleased with your comment. 🙂 xxx
For me, at least right now, I find if I intersperse resting periods after being active, I’m able to recover at least some of my energy. If I had to work full-time, that would be a problem! If I have a busy day, I definitely have to take one day off. Especially after I travel.
I try to do that too. I find if I can have a little nap then I’ll have abit more energy for the evening. Luckily I don’t have to work full time either but it takes me a day or two to recover from my days at work. xxx
Wow!! This is such a cool thing, I have never heard of it! I can see how it can really help! It really makes you stop and think about your day!! These past few weeks I really feel like I’ve been running round in circles and getting hardly anything done! Especially work wise!! Thank you for sharing and making me stop and think 🙂 xx
I hadn’t heard of it for ages and then I kept seeing people talk about spoons but that just really confused me. I couldn’t understand why anyone would need lots of spoons! 🙂 It is a really useful way of thinking about it though and explaining it. I really like it now. Glad it’s helped and hope you’re ok. xxx
I think this is a marvelous post. I love the illustrations of Dizzy and how she spent or used up her spoons. I am glad to see you and Dizzy posting again. I had noticed your absence. When I was at my worst with the Systemic Scleroderma I can remember I had to be very careful about how much I did or I would be exhausted and then all my joints would flare up and I’d be pretty miserable. I wish I had known about the Spoon Theory then.
Thank you Anne! We’re only working 2.5 days a week but its just been making us so exhausted for the rest of the week. This weeks been abit easier so I’m hoping it continues. 🙂 We love doing our little blog and have been missing it. That sounds very similar to me except instead of joints flaring up it’s the dizziness and balance. I do think the spoon theory is useful and it’s a good way of helping others understand too. 🙂 Hope you’re having a lovely start to the week. 🙂 xxx
Wishing you & dizzy plentiful spoons in your new job 🥄😊
Thank you Chiara! 🙂 xxx
Interesting share! I wish you and Dizzy a great amount of spoons in your new job! Stay strong and chipper and do what you can. Love the photos and the colorful spoons! I learnt something from you today. I suffer from an autoimmune disease too and I never let it get to me! Garfield hugs.
Thank you! I think our spoon amount for the new job is gradually increasing. The first 2 weeks were awful but the last week not quite so bad. 🙂 Hope you’re ok. xxx
I am as well as can be. Thanks! We just plod on and stay positive. Garfield hugs💕🤗🤗
I love Dizzy and the adventures.
Does Dizzy have any siblings that are for adoption?????
I live in Australia and would love one.
Mel x
Dizzy has lots! But I don’t know how much it would cost to get one to you! They all come in different shapes and sizes too. 🙂 http://www.donkeyworld.org.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2edonkeyworld%2eorg%2euk%2facatalog%2fGifts%2ehtml&WD=knitted&PN=Woolley%2dDonkey%2d407%2ehtml One lady did ask us who lives in America, and she got one sent over, she loved hers! They sent her a massive one! 🙂 xxx
I had a look and they are only about 20 pounds to send to Australia!! YAY
So watch this space…
Let us know when your donkey arrives! We’d love to see him/her. 🙂 This is the one that went to it’s new home in America. 🙂 xxx
https://rugby843.blog/2017/03/13/3277/
I will be sure to let you know when I get one. He will make a debut on my youtube channel for sure LOL xxxxxx
Awww, I can’t wait to see that! 🙂 xxx
Auto Immune diseases, well, they suck a bit don’t they. But I keep smiling.
I have two of them – but knowledge is power so just keep on-keeping on.
x Mel
They really do! And it’s not always easy but I do try and focus on the positive. We’ve just found your blog and are enjoying reading your posts! 🙂 xxx
Aw thank you. I enjoy reading yours too!! I love your positive attitude. It made my day finding your blog x
Aww, thank you. I’m really glad. 🙂 xxx
12 spoons… hmmmm….
I’d ensure my sister was never ill – 1 spoon (she is well now) I smile
I’d bring my mum back – 1 spoon
I’d go for a long run in the country and see the birds and the tree’s – 1 spoon
I’d eat out with friends and eat whatever I wanted – 1 spoon
I’d ride both my horses and Freddy wouldn’t have arthritis – 1 spoon
Eat icecream (boysenberry yum) – 1 spoon
Eat Mac and Cheese – yum – 1 spoon
Hike the el Camino (spain) – 1 spoon
Make someone smile who is unhappy today – 1 spoon
Rid my old border collie Buck of his arthritis and age and have him be a puppy forever – 1 spoon
Be a better friend and family member – 1 spoon
Take away someone elses pain – 1 spoon
x Mel
Aww Mel, they are all amazing ways to make use of your 12 spoons! We’ve always had border collies, absolutely love them! xxx
Hey! I LOVED this post! I would also so lovely a little Dizzy of my own.. she is so adorable! I might do a post tagging you guys in it about my spoon day 😊 I hope you’re doing okay xx
Aww, thank you. Glad you liked our spoonie day post! There are lots of little Dizzy’s at the donkey sanctuary which you can find on their site. 🙂 They all come in different shapes and sizes! 🙂 And thank you, we always really appreciate people tagging us in their posts. We are looking forward to reading it. 🙂 Hope you’re ok and having a good week. xxx
Aw I loved it and I’m definitely going to write a response for you and Dizzy 😊 I hope you’ve had a good day.. it’s my first week on increased hours at work so it’s been a bit tough but I’m still going 😊 ooh sorry but is it on the actual donkey sanctuary website? Xxx
Well done for getting through the start of the week though! Is this an increase to full hours? I’ve been on reduced hours the last 3 weeks and am starting to increase them this week (only by half an hour though). It is so tiring. You can buy them on the website too! Just means you won’t know exactly what your donkey will look like until he turns up. 🙂 xxx
http://www.donkeyworld.org.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2edonkeyworld%2eorg%2euk%2f%3f_ga%3d2%2e263942666%2e721326455%2e1506423322%2d1681407427%2e1494077257%26_gac%3d1%2e245672438%2e1506423322%2eCJK%2dgpbYwtYCFeiT7QodKyAC4A&WD=knitted&PN=Woolley%2dDonkey%2d407%2ehtml
Just today I was reading how important naps are, so I hope Dizzy and you can sneak one in some days.
We manage to sneak one in most days! We do love our little naps. 🙂 Hope you’re having a lovely week. xxx
One of my MS problems is that I rarely know how many spoons I have until the beginning of each day
I never know that either. I only know if I’ve done too much the day before that the next day there won’t be many! xxx
I have heard of this spoon idea for energy management but I think Dizzy explains it so well. Loved your post
Thank you! We’re glad you like it and that Dizzy’s done a good job of explaining it. 🙂 Hope you’re having a good week. xxx
I loved hearing about Dizzy’s adventures with her spoons. I would go with spending time in the garden with her buddies any day. Hugs to you both xx
I think that’s the best option too. And eating brownies! 🙂 xxx
Yes. With a little ice cream 😉☘☘☘
Great (and adorable!) explanation of the Spoon Theory!
Thank you Lindsay. 🙂 xxx
I’d choose the brownies over carrots any day!
Lol me too! But I don’t tell Dizzy that! 🙂 xxx
I know the idea of the Spoons, and know how difficult it can be when you’ve only received a delivery of (say) 3 spoons for that day. Getting up, having a shower and brushing your teeth can sometimes use up all the three spoons depending on the problems and severity of them on that day.
You are well supported, both in life and here on your fabulous blog. Know that people are rooting for you and would send spoons in bucket loads if they thought it might help.
You and I know that the only help we have is the spoon deliver. And yes … if you do too much on *this* day then you absolutely won’t be getting 12 spoons the following day, which can make for a very interesting life when you’ve made plans and other people are involved! [sigh]
These are the problems of working with a silly body.
Sending great big squidges and buckets of love ~ Cobs. x 🌷🌷🌷
Aww, thank you for your lovely response. It’s so true, it’s getting abit easier now but I was doing my 2.5 days at work and then it was taking me the 4.5 days off just to be able to regain any spoons! The last weeks definitely been slightly easier though, a few more spoons have been appearing. 🙂 Sending hugs. 🙂 xxx
Sending hugs right back. Take things easy – be sensible and don’t try to push your body further than it wants to realistically go.
Sending (mentally) half a dozen spoons wrapped up in a bow! 😀 ~ Cobs. x 🌷 🌷 🌷
Thank you. 🙂 Hope you have a lovely weekend. xxxx
Dizzy is great at rationing her spoons. I should be so careful. Unlike Dizzy I sometimes end up without even a single spoon to change for bed and brush my teeth. I’m glad to read you’re doing a little better spoon-wise recently. The new job was really taxing you at first. But don’t forget you can’t spend every spoon there!
Me and Dizzy do that aswell some nights! Hope you have a lovely weekend. 🙂 xxx
Thank you. You both have a great one as well!
I am so out of spoons.
I hope you’re had more today! I’m having an out of spoons day today but luckily have been able to rest all day. xx
Glad to hear it. I never seem able to stop. I teach full time and the world never seems to breathe unless I have five minutes in my garden!
I never know how people do it. I teach part time and it still seems to take up most of my time! :/ Hope you’ve managed to at least having a restful day today. xxx
Great post. Nice, simple explanation of the spoon theory. I always try and explain it to people and it comes out in a bit of a muddle! Loving hearing about how Dizzy spends her spoons ❤️.
It does when I explain it aswell to people. Just keep going on about spoons but it doesn’t really make much sense! 🙂 xxx
Such a great post! You’ve been in my thoughts as you brave the working world. Hoping things are better and better. 🌸
Thank you so much. We’re still going with the new job! And the last week it has started to be slightly easier. 🙂 Hope you’re having a good week. 🙂 xxx
I love the spoon theory! That is how I explained what living with fibro was like to my kids since they didn’t understand why I was so fatigued all the time and couldn’t do all the same things that I used to do when they were younger. It was the best analogy that I could use with my 7 year old…using actual spoons to show her how much it took out of me to do things depending on how badly I felt on any given day. Of course now, I’m out of spoons mid-day with all I have going on it seems like!! People who have no idea look at me like I’m insane if I say I’m a spoonie!! LOL xxx
That’s such a good idea using real spoons to help explain to your kids. 🙂 You have so much going on. How are you doing with it all? I hope you’re finding some time to rest and getting some spoons! xxx
I’ve been better. I’ve been having daily migraines for almost 2 weeks and blurred vision, but I think that it is because I’m spending 16 hrs plus on the laptop and the screentime is just killing my eyes. And my neck is just killing me from the horrible posture of sitting hunched over the pc too, which doesn’t help the headaches. I see my neurologist this week just to make sure that is what it is since when I have migraines I get really dizzy and nauseous, so I just want to make sure that is what it is. My coordination..hand coordination has been off too, just in my right hand, but my left hand has been having tremors at times, so I’m freaking out a bit even though the nurse said it could be from being exhausted since the last 2 weeks I only slept maybe 2-3 hrs a night with all the work I had to do for work and school. I felt like I was sleepwalking; drowning is a more apt description since I could barely get through my day without feeling like I was half-dead. I’ve rested this weekend, but it definitely doesn’t make up for lost rest. I need about 10 more spoons a day to get me to Dec 8th-the last day of my exams!! I hope you are feeling better than you were <3 xxx
You are so busy! That’s ridiculous only getting 2-3 hours sleep. I don’t know how you’ve kept going! It does sound very likely that is what the migraines will be, especially with being on the computer that much. Whens your appointment? Is there anyway of lightening the work load? Weren’t you getting some help that was suppose to start the other week? I hope you can have more time to rest than you have been! Make sure you do look after yourself. Sending hugs. xxx
There is not a soul on earth that can give a better spoon theory explanation LOL standing ovation!
Thank you so much. We’re really happy that you liked our post on the spoonie theory. 🙂 xxx
What a sweet donkey…I’m going to mention the Spoon Theory to my dear friend who suffers from migraines, it’s a wonderful way to track your energy level and it helps you to make good choices based on how many spoons you start out with!
It is such a useful theory. Even though I didn’t know about it for ages, so had no idea what people where going on about when they kept mentioning spoons! 🙂 x What did your friend thing of it? 🙂 xxx
I’m getting together with her tomorrow, I’ll tell her about it and let you know, thanks for the reminder!
You’ve explained the Spoon Theory perfectly Heather … adding and subtracting spoons and I love how Dizzy couuld not eat her carrots and looked at them with disgust, but suddenly there was room in that tummy for brownies. 🙂
Hehe, there is always room for brownies when it comes to Dizzy’s tummy. 🙂 xxx
No one can resist brownies. I don’t bake or have them here since it’s just me, so I am not tempted anymore. My mom used to make brownies and peanut butter cookies at least once a week and it’s a wonder I was not as big as a house back then from all those treats!